Networking: Make a List

Many people in transition know that they need to network but don't know where to start? Well, just like Santa you need to make a list of everyone you know. Yes, everyone… your friends, family, people you know through your children’s extracurricular activities, everyone!

People say that they don’t know many people. That doesn’t matter. What matters is that you get their names down on the list. Yes, written down on a physical list. It doesn’t matter if it is on paper or in an Excel spreadsheet, but it really has to be captured so you can work from it.

Some of my clients have confided that they are ashamed about being out of work. In some cases this is the first time they have lost their job in 25 or 30 years. You have to be past that -- you need to let people know that you are looking for a new job. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard stories that sound something like this: “If only I’d known… we had a position that would have been a perfect fit, but I didn’t know he was looking.”

Make the list and keep adding to it. Everyone you meet goes on the list. Then all you need to do is call them up and set up a time to meet with them in order to describe your skills and abilities and what kind of opportunity you are looking for.

Some people are close by and others are out of town. If you can, you want to meet with people face to face. You can also talk to them over the phone, but that isn’t as effective as being able to look someone in the eye when you’re talking to them.

You should easily be able to make a list of 50. A friend told me that I was nuts, she said,"You are an extrovert. I don't even have that many names in my address book and email list put together, and I have a big family." What I mean by "people you know": How about the plumber? The school principal and teachers? The guy who comes to fix the furnace? Anyone you've ever spoken to at a conference or business meeting? You might write down on your list your daughter's friends parents, e.g., "little Becky's folks." Then later look up their name and contact info.   Getting down all the names is the important thing. You'll find that  your list can quickly grow into a 150 names and more.

Its important not to make judgments about whether or not they will be able to help you. Simply get them down on the list. Later you'll talk to them and find out if they can help you in your job search. The next step is how to talk to folks and asking for their help and assistance in your job search. That will be a future topic for the blog.